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Symptoms of Food Allergies in Babies and How to Reduce the Risk of Allergic Reaction

© Kristine Roberson

When introducing new foods to babies - homemade or store-bought - parents should be especially cautious and aware of the symptoms of allergies, especially if food allergies run in the family.

Symptoms of Food Allergy in Babies and Common Allergens

Food allergies can cause itchy mouth and throat, rashes, cramping, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Other common symptoms are hives, wheezing, sneezing, runny nose, unusual crying, rhinitis, and shortness of breath. In extreme cases, a child may develop anaphylactic shock. Severe symptoms or reactions require immediate medical attention.

Foods that are the most likely to cause an allergy include cow's milk, soy, egg whites, wheat, shellfish and peanuts. Peanuts in particular can cause life-threatening reactions.

How to Reduce a Child's Susceptibility to Food Allergies

• Wait until they are 6 months old to introduce solids.
• Apply the 4-day wait rule when introducing new foods to your baby.

Babies cannot  digest foods properly until 4 to 6 months of age. Waiting until they are 6 months old is the safest bet. Prior to that, a baby should have only breast milk or formula. Waiting until 6 months to feed a baby solids gives her the best chance of being able to digest them, and smooth digestion means less risk of allergies.

Sometimes it can take 3 or 4 days for a reaction to appear. If you introduce one solid food at a time and wait 4 days before introducing another, you will instantly know what food is causing a reaction and can eliminate it from the baby's diet immediately.

When to Introduce New, Allergen-Prone Foods

• Meat, egg yolk and soy products: 8 months
• Cheese, yogurt, milk, legumes: 9 months
• Egg whites, fish, tomatoes, citrus fruits, strawberries: 1 year
• Chocolate, seafood, honey, peanuts, and all peanut products should be delayed for as long as possible due to extreme allergic reactions from some children.

If you have a family history of food allergies be particularly careful when introducing these foods. If your baby exhibits a reaction to any food, wait a few months before trying it again, and consult with your pediatrician.

Be particularly careful when introducing seafood, peanuts and honey. Peanuts and seafood are most likely to cause the most severe reactions, while honey is dangerous for children under the age of 1 because of the danger of botulism poisoning.